But I don’t see how it undermines transparancy.

It shows a level or penchant for less than open/honest behavior in the workplace on the part of a perpetrating employee. Most state government’s ask employees to sign a contract agreeing not to abuse the public’s trust by taking advantage of tax payer funded services or supplies. In short, besides fraud, it’s about trustworthiness.

I think if an employee is discovered breaking this contract on something that I agree is minor, sending or answering e-mail, then that employee may be less than transparent on other work-related issues or areas.

“…government officials…undermining transparency and accountability?”

And sending personal e-mails on the tax payers’ dime – a form of public fraud – doesn’t undermine transparency and accountability?

Wow.

And you really see more abuse in someone using a work email account for private purposes, which while probably not a good idea, seems to have as it’s worst consequence some mispproproated bandwidth, than you do in government officials skirting foia laws and this undermining transparency and accountability?

All right. I guess this is pointless.

Have you seen the headers to those messages?
Don’t be obtuse.

It’s not being obtuse to give Governor Palin the benefit of a doubt. You know how misleading e-headers can be, whether spam or from a close friend, so I think it’s presumptive to judge by that standard alone. But even if the messages are as they may appear, what of it?

I see far greater abuse in a politician using state e-mail for personal matters than I do in his/her use of their private e-account for semi-official communication.

On November 28th, 2008 at 5:09 pm, Digshot said:

The conservative base would have followed George Bush through time and space forever and ever if he had just continued to win for himself and the brand.

Wrong, the conservative base only followed him because he was running against a couple of complete morons. If he goes down in history as anything, it’ll be as the man who saved the USA from the brain trust of Al Gore and John Kerry.

perfunctory/house-keeping duties of making simple contacts and agenda announcements.

Have you seen the headers to those messages? They do not fall under “perfunctory” “simple contacts” or “agenda anouncements.”

Don’t be obtuse.

You’re the lawyer, so I’ll defer to you on this one, but in my state it is a firing offense for state employees (regardless of tenure or position) to violate KY’s Best Practices statute on e-mail.

Oops! To finish:

So there are penalties and ramifications in KY, and I presume in Alaska, for state employees who defraud the peoples’ trust by using government e-mail for personal business; however, I don’t know of any precedent for a state official using a private e-mail account to perform the perfunctory/house-keeping duties of making simple contacts and agenda announcements.

Maybe I missed it, if so, it’s news to me.

You must not confuse Republicans for conservatives. Doing so got you 8 years of Reagan. Hopefully the Republicans will run a conservative in 2012.

You don’t need to worry about me being confused. I’ve been saying George Bush isn’t a Republican for years, while much of the conservative movement enthusiastically supported Bush during his re-election. But George Bush was no more of a conservative in 2002 than he is today, a few months before he leaves office in disgrace. If anyone’s confused about the differences between Republicans and conservatives, it’s Republicans and conservatives.

The conservative base would have followed George Bush through time and space forever and ever if he had just continued to win for himself and the brand. This man received ridiculous amounts of praise from conservatives for any number of his very un-conservative ideas. In the Republican party, you can literally propose or support anything as long as you win the election. The party as its organized isn’t about any single or slate of issues, it’s about winning, first and foremost. Republicans are conservatives and vice versa when things are going well, but when things aren’t, the divorce is over pretty quick. The party failed, not the ideology, right?

And you are not the least bit suspicious that she was in fact researching if such emails would be subject to subpoena?

Sorry Chap, but that’s what INSTRUMENTAL (direct action) leadership is all about – side stepping bureaucratic stupidity to take charge and get things done. And at an 80%+ approval rating among both Rep & Dem Alaskans, Gov Palin’s doing something right – whether you’ll give her credit for it or not.

My point is, when confronted with a dilemma, expressive leaders like Obama do nothing but fret, talk and wring their hands, remaining generally inactive; instrumental leaders like Gov Palin, on the other hand, act first to solve situations before pausing to ask moot questions. Thus I understand her resorting to private e-mail – the shortest distance thing – and have no problems with it.

No. It is not “best practices” it is the law.

You’re the lawyer, so I’ll defer to you on this one, but in my state it is a firing offense for state employees (regardless of tenure or position) to violate KY’s Best Practices statute on e-mail.

Not sure what any of this has to do with the fact that Obama is seeking to make sure he is in compliance.

You began your defense of Obama by impugning Gov Palin’s intelligence, insinuating she lacked the good judgment to conduct state business, which was patently unfair!

But of course if Dick Morris says something, it must be true.

Well, he was co-president in the second Clinton term, and it was his wisdom and ability to accurately read the minds of voters – not Clinton’s – that made that second term possible!

Like when he said this:

Morris wanted HRC defeated. He was talking her up to goad the Obama-heads into action against her during the primaries; and given that HRC held on til June, I don’t think he was that wrong!

Digshot said:
Hahahha.

Is this the type of criticism we can expect to hear from Republicans over the next eight years?

You must not confuse Republicans for conservatives. Doing so got you 8 years of Reagan. Hopefully the Republicans will run a conservative in 2012.